Cameras allowed in Court of Appeal for first time
TELEVISION cameras were allowed for the first time in one of Britain’s highest courts Thursday after a partial lifting of a nearly 90-year ban on filming in courts.
The landmark shift comes after years of campaigning from broadcasters such as the BBC, Sky News and ITN.
James Harding, the BBC’s director of news, said broadcasting proceedings at the Court of Appeal will help viewers understand how the justice system works. In the first broadcast case, a man lost his appeal of a 7-year sentence for counterfeiting.
Lawyers’ arguments, judges’ comments and sentencing remarks may be filmed, but victims, witnesses and defendants may not.
Some cases will be broadcast with a 70-second delay.